This life is a testing ground, and for the saints, it's a race - how well we run will depend on our source of strength; either in our own strength, or by renewing (literally 'exchanging') our strength for the LORD's own (ISAIAH 40:31). Those who run well receive the prize (crowns, rewards, etc.).
Paul stated the following:
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; *but we an incorruptible*. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Paul wasn't talking about the loss of salvation when speaking on being a potential "castaway" but being disqualified to win the prize. If you read the entire chapter, the context makes this clear.
What he did in order to 'run well' was to "keep his body under": this is what it means to live the crucified life (I recommend A.W. Tozer's book on this subject at the preceding link) - dying to self so that Christ may not only live through us more powerfully, but that He may DOMINATE us so far and so deep that sin loses its appeal, its attraction, and its deadly after effects. That CHRIST MAY BE SEEN IN US by this dark world of dying souls with the earnest prayer that the Light of JESUS from our lives will draw them to the Savior!
I've heard many Christians through the years say, "I don't care so much about rewards; I'll just be grateful to make it to heaven!"
And true, the depths of worshipful gratitude for the LORD Jesus Christ in all that He has done for us, in providing eternal life and a home in heaven, based solely on His goodness and grace is something we shall be eternally grateful for.
Check out this two part article on TTUF: The ALTAR of the ALMIGHTY - Part One; Part Two.
And THAT's THE POINT saints! Our gratitude should be so powerful and genuine that it compels us to pull out all the stops and let Christ reign fully, freely, forever in every moment so that it's not we who live, but Christ Who lives in us:
GALATIANS 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Saints, on the day of the Bema Seat Judgment (Where Christ will judge us, NOT FOR OUR SINS, but for our conduct in life as a disciple, and determine what reward (if any) we shall receive; see 1 COR 3:11-15; 2 COR 5:9-11) what we've done for the LORD and why, will come under the review of He with the burning eyes of fire, Who sees and knows all of our deeds, our words, thought and intents of the heart (HEB 4:12-13). Did we serve the LORD out of a heart of love for Him, which is all that will matter:
And THAT's THE POINT saints! Our gratitude should be so powerful and genuine that it compels us to pull out all the stops and let Christ reign fully, freely, forever in every moment so that it's not we who live, but Christ Who lives in us:
GALATIANS 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Saints, on the day of the Bema Seat Judgment (Where Christ will judge us, NOT FOR OUR SINS, but for our conduct in life as a disciple, and determine what reward (if any) we shall receive; see 1 COR 3:11-15; 2 COR 5:9-11) what we've done for the LORD and why, will come under the review of He with the burning eyes of fire, Who sees and knows all of our deeds, our words, thought and intents of the heart (HEB 4:12-13). Did we serve the LORD out of a heart of love for Him, which is all that will matter:
1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-81 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
And what shall we do with these rewards? These crowns for faithful service done with the sole motive of our love for GOD?
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED US TO GOD by THY BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
REVELATION 4:10-11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, AND CAST THEIR CROWNS BEFORE THE THRONE, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Saints, if we receive any reward it's because we've allowed the Spirit of Christ to do His work in and through us, to etch into our souls the very nature of JESUS, and thereby enabling us to do these GOOD works that GOD ordained for us (EPH 2:10)! Thus these rewards become emblems of the LORD's work in our lives, bringing forth the good fruit TO THE GLORY OF GOD (JOHN 15:8)!
We only go through this life once; and once gone, every opportunity to live for Christ, to yield to His Spirit in transforming us by renewing our minds and being acceptable sacrifices for Him (ROM 12:1-2) will be forever lost. The opportunity to see GOD glorified in us will be forever lost. The opportunity to fulfill GOD's Holy will by producing good fruit will be FOREVER LOST!!
We don't want to hear it said of us:
"Of all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest of these are 'It might have been'."
We don't want to face the LAMB of GOD, still bearing the emblems of HIS LOVING SACRIFICE for us - the wounds in His hands and feet (It's been said, The only man-made thing in heaven will be the scars of JESUS' body) - as we watch our works (done in the flesh) burned to ashes, with nothing to show for all that GOD invested in us: His blood, His Spirit of grace and love, His Holy Word, the stewardship of a lifetime of opportunity to love for Christ and proving it by laying our lives down for Him, daily!
Rather, as faithful stewards we want to make use of our GOD-given valuable time (it's the one commodity that you can't buy more of) and know the liberating joy of surrendering all to Christ, and burn BRIGHTLY with love and passion for HIM so that on that Day, we shall hear the blessed words we long for:
"Well done good and faithful servant! Enter into the JOY of thy LORD!" (MATT 25:21)
HEBREWS 12:1-2
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Note what is says here: we are surrounded, figuratively - all the heroes of the faith listed in the previous chapter (HEB 11) that are cheering us all on in this race! And the LORD Himself, the Author and Finisher of our faith as our focus, standing with outstretched arms and a smile only He could give, encouraging and strengthening us to win big by crossing that finishing line in victory!
Also: It speaks of laying aside sin, but before that "every weight" - things that are not sin in and of themselves, but can hinder us from fulfilling GOD's will for us, and becoming sin. Certainly we want to run with liberty, not bogged down with anything that will lessen our stamina and speed.
Check out the late pastor Chuck Smith's encouraging 31 minute teaching:
For more on HEBREWS 12:1-2, check out this Three Part Series from pastor Sonny Islas of SHINE BRIGHT Church: FINISH LINE FAITH - PART ONE.
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